MIL Africa Engine

Source: APO – Report:

The organisers of the DRC Mining Week expo and conference have warmly welcomed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the South African Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Fonds De Promotion De L’Industrie (FIP) that was recently signed in Cape Town.

VUKA Group, the organisers of the annual flagship mining gathering in Lubumbashi in June, have lauded what it terms “the commitment to building a larger mining community across the SADC region and towards greater cooperation, economic prosperity, and sustainable development for the continent.”

According to the IDC, the MOU is the first of its kind and is aimed at fostering collaboration in areas of mutual economic interest between South Africa and the DRC for the benefit of the region.

Countries well-placed to cooperate

“Exploring even closer cooperation between South Africa and the DRC is a logical, strategic development, as the countries are well‑placed to cooperate, especially in mining,” states Samukelo Madlabane, Events Director – Mining for the VUKA Group. “The DRC holds vast mineral reserves, while South Africa brings decades of mining expertise, advanced technology, and established financial institutions that can support cross‑border ventures.”

Moreover, Madlabane explains: “South Africa and the DRS share a long and storied history in mining. Both nations have been blessed with generous resources and have a tradition of being close to the soil, from agri to mining—working this soil is in their DNA.” 

DRC Mining Week success story

He continues: “The DRC Mining Week success story of the last two decades is proof that the two countries are already working closely across the value chain in the sector. For the last 20 years, we have had the privilege of building an incredible, dynamic community of mining pioneers and entrepreneurs in the heart of the Copperbelt, gathering in Lubumbashi for DRC Mining Week. Many South African technology and service providers as well as developers have been with us since the start and have greatly benefited from being able to build close ties and successful businesses and partnerships in-country.”

The DRC Mining Week organisers hope to provide a platform for the IDC and FIP at the event in order to report back on the progress of the MOU and the establishment of a broad framework for these institutions to collaborate, co-develop, and co-invest in projects and exchange investment.

DRC Mining Week dates and venue 2026:
– Expo and conference: 17–19 June 2026
– Location: The Pullman Grand Karavia Hotel, Lubumbashi, DRC

– on behalf of VUKA Group.

Social Media:
Twitter: https://apo-opa.co/4bE3Rww   
Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/47gv9b8
LinkedIN: https://apo-opa.co/4uNrFqp  

About DRC Mining Week:
In another record-breaking year in 2025, DRC Mining Week’s numbers increased by 42% for a total of 13,078 visitors as part of 16,500 attendees from 80+ countries.

Website: http://www.DRCMiningWeek.com    

About VUKA Group:
VUKA Group (www.WeAreVUKA.com) (formerly Clarion Events Africa), is a leading Cape Town-based and multi-award-winning organiser of exhibitions, conferences and digital events across the continent in the infrastructure, energy, mining, mobility, green economy and retail sectors. Other well-known events by VUKA Group include DRC-Africa Battery Metals Forum (http://apo-opa.co/4bKcm9k), Nigeria Mining Week (http://apo-opa.co/3Nmc00H), Enlit Africa (http://apo-opa.co/4bKuEaI), Africa’s Green Economy Summit (http://apo-opa.co/4v6gmdp), Carbon Markets Africa Summit (http://apo-opa.co/4uO7Ijo), Smarter Mobility Africa (http://apo-opa.co/47nS3xg), ECOM Africa (http://apo-opa.co/4svIG7e) and CEM Africa (http://apo-opa.co/3NniRqJ).
 

Source: APO – Report:

• 7 North African entrepreneurs selected from Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt
• 51% of the 2026 cohort are women, all selected purely on merit, without any quota in place
• 3,200 total entrepreneurs selected from 265,000+ applications across 54 African countries
• USD 5,000 in non-refundable seed capital for each selected entrepreneur
• Selection conducted independently by Ernst & Young

This year’s cohort carries a historic signal: 51 percent of the 2026 entrepreneurs are women. They were selected purely on merit, without quota. Across hundreds of thousands of applications, women distinguished themselves through the strength of their ideas, the clarity of their business models and the ambition of their vision.

In 2026, the Foundation is empowering a total of 3,200 entrepreneurs across all its entrepreneurship programmes:

• 1,751 entrepreneurs through Heirs Holdings Group: Heirs Energies, Transcorp Power, Transcorp Hotels, and United Capital;
• 1,049 entrepreneurs in partnership with the European Commission, OACPS, BMZ and GIZ;
• 100 entrepreneurs in partnership with Sèmè City Development Agency;
• 100 entrepreneurs in partnership with DEG, the German Development Agency;
• 100 entrepreneurs in partnership with the IKEA Foundation, UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited and the Dutch Government; and
• 100 entrepreneurs in partnership with UNDP and the Rwandan Ministry of Youth and Arts.

Each selected Tony Elumelu Entrepreneur will receive USD 5,000 in non-refundable seed capital, access to world-class business management training on TEFConnect, one-on-one mentorship, and entry into a powerful network of investors, partners and fellow entrepreneurs.

In his annual letter (https://apo-opa.co/4uOFepM), “A Story of Hope,” Tony O. Elumelu, C.F.R., Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, shared a powerful message to the new cohort:

“For a long time, I believed luck was something that simply happened to you. Then I came to understand: luck can be engineered. Opportunity can be democratised. Hope is not just a feeling — it is a system we can build.” — Tony O. Elumelu, C.F.R., Founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation — 2026 Annual Letter

The Tony Elumelu Foundation has empowered over 2.5 million young Africans with access to business management training on TEFConnect (https://TEFConnect.com), and disbursed over USD 100 million in seed capital to more than 24,000 selected entrepreneurs.

Collectively, these entrepreneurs have generated USD 4.2 billion in revenue and created more than 1.5 million direct and indirect jobs. Through its support for African entrepreneurs, TEF has lifted 2.1 million Africans above the poverty line and positively impacted more than 4 million African households, with 46% of supported entrepreneurs being African women. Eighty percent of TEF-supported businesses survive and scale, against a global average of ten to twenty percent.

– on behalf of The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

Media Contact: 
Moyo Awotile
Head, Brand Marketing and Corporate Communications
The Tony Elumelu Foundation
moyo.awotile@tonyelumelufoundation.org
www.TonyElumeluFoundation.org
TEFConnect
@TonyElumeluFDN

About the Tony Elumelu Foundation: 
The Tony Elumelu Foundation is Africa’s leading philanthropy empowering entrepreneurs. Founded by Tony O. Elumelu in 2010, the Foundation has invested over $100 million in seed capital and supported more than 24,000 entrepreneurs across all 54 African countries. Headquarters: Heirs Place, 1 MacGregor Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria. www.TonyElumeluFoundation.org

Source: APO – Report:

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African Petroleum Ministers have declined to participate in the upcoming Africa Energies Summit (AES) taking place on May 12–14, 2026 in London, citing serious concerns around local content, representation and the broader direction of the platform’s agenda. The decision sends a strong signal from the continent’s oil-producing nations that local content remains a core priority for Africa’s energy future and that industry platforms operating under the banner of African energy must reflect the continent’s values and development objectives.

“By boycotting AES in London, the African oil industry is showcasing that local content is a priority. The message is clear: if Gayle and Daniel Davidson change their policy to be more inclusive, many Africans will work with them. The exclusionary policies are not reflective of our values and that of the oil industry. Frontier has an incredible opportunity to do the right thing,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber.

Across the oil and gas sectors, both emerging and established markets are integrating local content policies within their broader project fundamentals as a way to catalyze job creation, local participation and broader skills development. Regulation has served as a launchpad for local content development. Policies such as the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act (NOGIC) and Angola’s Local Content Law have provided a strong foundation for local content implementation – and many projects are taking the lead.

The Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) project in Senegal and Mauritania not only designates a portion of gas for each domestic market but features a multi-pronged local content strategy focusing on supply chain, workforce development and social investment. In the development stage, the project offered an online portal where local suppliers registered their interest and engagement opportunities with the procurement team, while over 47 trainees participated in a multi-year program in preparation for offshore work. The project partners engaged in extensive community outreach, including health, education, economic development and environmental awareness. GTA exported its first cargo in 2025 and is working toward full-scale operations in 2026.

Similarly, the EG LNG project in Equatorial Guinea is a major local content driver. Operating since 2007, the project has placed emphasis on local workforce development and integration through several initiatives that promote participation and broader economic support. In addition to prioritizing local vendors and contractors, the Punta Europa plant and associated infrastructure employs over 1,400 people, with the larger Gas Mega Hub project – of which EG LNG is a central part – set to increase this figure to 3,000 people. Nigeria’s LNG plant also actively promotes local content through policies on Nigerian manpower development, technology acquisition and utilizing local contractors. The implementation of the NOGIC saved the LNG project $2 billion across its EPC stage for the seventh train.

Emerging oil and gas producers such as Mozambique, with three large-scale LNG projects underway, Namibia, which eyes first oil production by 2029, and The Gambia have all integrated local content regulations within their energy frameworks. This approach demonstrates a commitment to Africa, making companies like Frontier that much more disappointing. The African oil industry – as well as companies operating in seismic, services and policy – must take the local content lead.

“A lot of Africans feel that all the progress and gains made by our oil industry on local content are constantly being stomped on by groups like Frontier. We believe in Drill Baby Drill and local content, and we’re being told that there’s something wrong with it, that we should be ashamed of it in some way and that it needs to be replaced with discrimination. Many people are just sick of it. We’ve had enough, and we don’t want our whole oil industry stripped down to where we have no semblance of that sort of nostalgic African oil and gas culture that we cherish,” Ayuk adds.

The recent boycott by these ministers reflects a broader belief by the continent that local content must be an integral part of oil and gas operations. This includes discussions on the current and future state of the continent’s hydrocarbon industry. 

“Gayle and Daniel Davidson are essentially marketing to a clientele that doesn’t exist, Let’s be clear: the oil industry does not and will not defend discrimination against black professionals. It’s not who we are. They both need to come clear and denounce this. This virtue signaling to a certain crowd does not help our goals for an inclusive oil industry,” concludes Ayuk.

– on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Source: APO – Report:

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The Petroleum Directorate of Sierra Leone (PDSL) is set to convene an investor roundtable at Invest in African Energy (IAE) Forum 2026 in Paris, underscoring growing interest in West and North African energy markets and the need for deeper capital engagement across exploration, renewable and offshore services. The session reflects a strategic effort by Sierra Leone to connect its emerging upstream prospects with established operators and project developers as the country moves to unlock the full potential of its emerging oil and gas industry.  

Sierra Leone is increasingly positioning itself as a frontier oil and gas market with significant offshore potential, and part of the PDSL’s mandate is to catalyze investment interest in its offshore acreage through direct engagement with global capital. Recent data suggest the country holds estimated recoverable resources in the tens of billions of barrels, backed by discoveries and extensive multi‑client seismic datasets that prospective investors are evaluating. The PDSL is actively promoting licensing opportunities and drilling plans, emphasizing fiscal terms and exploration readiness to attract strategic partners.

A cornerstone of this strategy is the anticipated launch of the country’s sixth licensing round. Offering a rare early-entry opportunity into a largely untapped deepwater terrain with considerable upside, the upcoming bid round is backed by fresh 3D datasets which de-risk exploration and support new drilling campaigns. Just this month, GeoPartners announced that the final Pre-Stack Time Migration data for its recently acquired 3D multi-client seismic survey in the country was complete and is now available for licensing. The dataset provides a 3D window into the hydrocarbon potential of the underexplored northern Sierra Leone region.

Sierra Leone’s licensing drive comes as major operators advance exploration activities. In 2025, Eni signed a Reconnaissance Permit Agreement with the PDSL, securing rights to conduct reconnaissance and technical evaluation activities across offshore blocks G113, G129, G130, G131 and G132. The acreage covers 6,790 square kilometers within Sierra Leone’s territorial waters. Nigeria’s F.A. Oil Limited is pursuing drilling following its award of six offshore blocks through the country’s fifth licensing round in 2023. The company is currently seeking a farm-in partner to advance the project from exploration to production, offering a 40% stake in each of the G Blocks 53, 54, 55, 71, 72 and 73.

As these development unfold, the upcoming roundtable at IAE 2026 offers a unique opportunity for operators and policymakers to engage potential investors. The IAE 2026 Forum has become a strategic bridge between African upstream opportunities and global investors, with sessions like the PDSL roundtable designed to foster deeper dialogue and provide clarity on project pipelines and investment prerequisites. Discussions are expected to cover mechanisms for de‑risking exploration activity, optimizing fiscal and contractual frameworks and identifying synergies between hydrocarbon investment and renewable energy commitments.

For investors seeking differentiated exposure to African energy markets, the Sierra Leone roundtable represents both a focused exploration of frontier oil potential and a broader conversation about regional infrastructure, partnerships and the evolving demands of energy capital in the years ahead.

IAE 2026 (www.Invest-Africa-Energy.com) is an exclusive forum designed to connect African energy markets with global investors, serving as a key platform for deal-making in the lead-up to African Energy Week. Scheduled for April 22–23, 2026, in Paris, the event will provide delegates with two days of in-depth engagement with industry experts, project developers, investors and policymakers. For more information, visit www.Invest-Africa-Energy.com. To sponsor or register as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com

– on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

Source: APO

Two university lecturers, Dr Felix Ijeh and Ewere Okonta; and a public relations practitioner, Blaise Udunze have joined the league of regular contributors to The Nigerian Economy Newspaper (https://Economyng.com), as the media platform navigates the crowdy lane to the top.

Felix Ijeh, PhD, is a seasoned banker, distinguished economist, researcher and policy analyst. He is currently a senior lecturer at the Department of Economics, Faculty of Management and Social Sciences, Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo. A fellow of the Nigerian Economic Society (FNES), Dr Ijeh was a regional manager of Wema Bank before becoming a lecturer. He writes on the economy, engaging our audience in crucial and impactful economic issues and developments both locally and globally. We have put his articles together in his special column as The Tuesday Discourse with Dr Felix Ijeh. You can read read one of his insightful articles here: https://apo-opa.co/4rNAT3a.

Other analytical articles by Dr Ijeh are also published in The Nigerian Economy Newspaper on Saturday, which we bring to our teeming readers in Nigeria and across the world as The Weekend Analysis.

Commenting on his editorial involvement at the newspaper, Dr. Ijeh said: “Every well-meaning Nigerian should contribute to her growth and development with their skills and mental resources. This is the path I’ve chosen as an economic analyst and researcher and I find The Nigerian Economy Newspaper as a fantastic new media platform to reach a wide range of people in the financial, maritime, aviation and other economic sectors. I’m grateful to the newspaper’s management for giving me the platform to express my honest views and findings.”

Ewere Okonta, a senior lecturer at the Business Administration Department, University of Delta, Agbor, Delta State, and an entrepreneur, takes on family and social issues of man’s daily encounter with life, bringing to bare the values of discipline, morals, the relevance of trade and vocation to man’s siuccess and purposeful living. Here is one of his copies published recently by The Nigerian Economy Newspaper https://apo-opa.co/4suBoAA.

“The Nigerian Economy Newspaper is one of the few online newspapers in Nigeria with a broader coverage. I am glad to be one of its several contributors, adding to the newspaper’s premium content on a daily basis,” Okonta said, while speaking on his engagement.

Blaise Udunze, an aggressive writer and a vocal public relations professional and public analyst with a background and experience in financial sector public relations, exudes in-depth knowledge of the banking industry. In his contributions published mainly on Wenesdays, he exposes Nigeria’s hidden challenge in money politics – macro-financial management, banking leadership and public budgetting loopholes while suggesting solutions. You can read one of his very incisive articles here: https://apo-opa.co/4bYSG2S.

Commenting, Udunze said: “I am excited to find The Nigerian Economy Newspaper as another veritable platform to air my views about the Nigerian financial sector. This is an issue I’m passionate about and I’m grateful to the publisher, Mr. Samson Echenim, for providing yet another vibrant platform for my voice.”

Speaking on the development, the Publisher and Editor-in-Chiief, The Nigerian Economy Newspaper, Mr. Samson Echenim said: “Together, these new firebrand writers provide that in-depth, incisive and insightful contents that set The Nigerian Economy Newspaper apart from the crowd of online newspapers, giving us a popular edge over our counterparts and competitors.

“This is in addition to our partnership with Apo Group, an international media content provider, to deepen the quality of our stories and create a unique value in the online media ecosystem. Today, we have become the fastest growing digital business newspaper, not only in Nigeria, but across the globe.”

“This is one of the several ways we have chosen to do things differently. The crowd is huge and the challenge is real. We have chosen not to be lost in crowd by providing those contents that do not only inform and educate, but put our readers ahead of time. In a world where things move too fast, we are taking deliberate decisions to make our readers be on top of trends. We are grateful to our millions of readers across the world and we promise more.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Nigerian Economy Newspaper.